Electromagnetic fitness shoes with a conductor structure

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides electromagnetic fitness shoes with a conductor structure and an insole. The shoes include a vamp, an inner space, a heel portion and a sole. The sole includes a big sole body, a middle sole and an insole. The insole is provided with conducting members, and the conductor structure electrically connects to a conducting member. The conducting member includes a conductive terminal and electric wire. The conductive terminal fitted with an electric connecting portion. The conductive terminal is assembled into the interleaving space formed by the heel portion and arranged along the interleaving space. The electric connecting portion is exposed upwards, and the conducting member of insole is made of conductive fabrics. The robustness is improved, and the service life of the electromagnetic fitness shoes is prolonged with better comfort and applicability.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to electromagnetic fitnessshoes, and more particularly to innovative shoes with a conductorstructure and insoles.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

So-called electromagnetic fitness shoes refer to special shoes thatcombine positive and negative conducting members to generatephysiotherapy and fitness effect for the benefit of human feet throughmedium to low cycle-by-cycle current. These shoes are perfectly suitablefor modem people due to lack of space-time limitations.

As an innovative product marketed recently, some design issues forelectromagnetic fitness shoes can only be observed during actualapplications. The present invention intends to improve the conductorstructure of electromagnetic fitness shoes, as typically disclosed byexample in Taiwan patent No. M263007, entitled “Electromagnetic fitnessshoes”, wherein the conductive terminal is placed transversely on theheel wall of the shoes, and by another example in Taiwan patent No.M268955, entitled “Wire-controlled fitness shoes”, wherein theconductive terminal is placed transversely on one side of the shoes.

However, there are the following shortcomings for these two typicalstructures observed during application. First, the electromagneticfitness shoes are mainly used for walking purposes when they are notelectrically activated, similar to sports shoes, leisure shoes, leathershoes or sandals. It is understood from everyday experience that shoesgenerally contact surrounding objects with friction and collision, sothat the typical electromagnetic fitness shoes disclosed in Taiwanpatent No. M263007 are extremely vulnerable to friction and collision innormal walking purposes, leading to damage and malfunction. Second, asfor structural strength, the vertical wall of the heel is very thin, soa transverse portion of the conductive terminal is hard to be positionedfirmly and robustly. As disclosed in Taiwan patent No. M268955, the heelis located nearer to the ground, so the conductive terminal is easilyexposed to dampness and dust, bringing about an adverse effect on thefunctions of the shoes and a shorter service life.

In addition, the insoles of electromagnetic fitness shoes generallycontact the feet to yield the electrical contact effect. Thus, metallicconducting strips with positive and negative electrodes are typicallyplaced on the insole surface to electrically contact the human feet.However, it is observed from application that users may feeluncomfortable when stepping on the insoles, since the metallicconducting strips are rigid and solid and distributed in severalpatterns depending upon the design requirements. Therefore, such insolesare not well-suited for either electric treatment or general walking.

Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it wouldbe an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that cansignificantly improve efficacy.

Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention ofpracticability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years ofexperience in the production, development and design of relatedproducts.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The conductive terminal is arranged along an interleaving space formedbetween inner and external walls of the heel portion, so that theconductive terminal can be supported firmly without the protrudingpattern of a typical prior art structure. Collisions are avoided and therobustness of the conductor structure are more robust for a longerservice life.

Since the electric connecting portion of the conductive terminal isexposed at a top of the heel portion, a higher location on the shoebody, it is now feasible to greatly reduce the possibility of moistureand dust deposits on the conductive terminal. The normal functions aremaintained, and the service life is effectively prolonged.

Based upon the conductive terminal arranged along the interleaving spaceof the heel portion, the conductive terminal is positioned firmlythrough overlapping or interleaving of inner and external walls of theheel portion, providing a more cost-efficient manufacturing process withbetter industrial efficiency.

Based on the linear characteristics of the end of electric wire, theoverlapping length of electric wire and conducting member are extended,improving the stability of electric connections and eliminating theadverse influence from the offset of insole.

Based on the conducting member being made of conductive fabrics, theshoes provide better comfort and applicability.

In addition, a gasket is embedded into the through-hole penetrating thestepping surface and bottom of the insole, so that conductive fabric canbe positioned firmly without being influenced by the offset. The gasketis made of elastic materials to improve walking comfort.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of electromagnetic fitnessshoes of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a partially enlarged perspective view of position B of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of partial component of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 shows an assembled sectional view of internal structure of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment ofinsole structure of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a partially assembled sectional view of the preferredembodiment of insole structure of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of another application of insolestructure of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of another application of insole structureof the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of another application of insolestructure of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The features and the advantages of the present invention will be morereadily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1-4 depict preferred embodiments of the electromagnetic fitnessshoes with a conductor structure and insoles of the present invention.The embodiments are provided only for explanatory purposes.

The electromagnetic fitness shoes comprises a shoe body A, whichincludes a vamp 10, an inner space 20, a heel portion 30 and a sole 40.The sole 40 comprises a big sole 41, a middle sole 42 and an insole 43.The insole 43 is fitted with conducting member 44. The conductorstructure 50 connects electrically with the conducting member 44 of theinsole 43 and comprises a conductive terminal 51 and an electric wire52. One end of the conductive terminal 51 is provided with an electricconnecting portion 53 (either a jack or a button pattern) forelectrically linking one end of the preset electric wire. The other endof the electric wire is generally linked to a controller, therebyregulating the degree of electric wave generated from input current.

A major feature of the present invention is the conductive terminal 51being assembled into an interleaving space 33 formed between inner wall31 and external wall 32 of the heel portion 30 and being arranged alongthe interleaving space. One embodiment shows the conductive terminal 51vertically arranged. Meanwhile, the electric connecting portion 53 ofthe conductive terminal 51 is exposed upwards. The electric wire 52 istransversely penetrated from the bottom of heel portion 30 into thebottom of middle sole 42 and then extended from the preset position ofmiddle sole 42 to the top of middle sole 42. Moreover, the end 54 of theelectric wire 52 is allowed for extending to the corresponding positionof conducting member 44 of the insole 43 for electric connection.

The end 54 of the electric wire 52 may be designed into a linear shape.The electric wire 52 is overlapped with the conducting member 44,thereby improving the stability of electric connection and eliminatingthe adverse influence from the offset of insole 43.

Based upon above-specified structures of the electromagnetic fitnessshoes of the present invention, when the users are intended forelectrical activation, the preset end of electric wire inserts intoelectric connecting portion 53 of the conductive terminal 51. When theelectric wire is energized, the current may be guided from theconductive terminal 51 to the end 54 via the electric wire 52, and thento the conducting member 44 of insole 43, thus enabling physiotherapyfor the reflecting regions of the human feet. With regard to thearrangement of said conducting member 44, the positive and negativeelectrodes may be arranged onto the insoles 43 of either left or rightfoot, or collectively on the insoles 43 of a single foot.

Referring to FIG. 5, the insole 43 is a plate with predefined thickness,from which a stepping surface 431 and a bottom 432 are defined. Theconducting member 44 of the insole 43 is made of conductive fabric 441.A through-hole 433 penetrates the stepping surface and bottom on atleast one region of the insole 10. Gaskets 60 (with the quantity in linewith said through-holes 433) are additionally provided, which may bemade of elastic materials (e.g. rubber and foaming materials). Thegasket 60 is sized properly to be embedded into the through-hole 433 ofthe insole 43, so that conductive fabric 20 can adhere tightly onto thegasket 60, achieving electric connection of top and bottom conductivefabric 441 of the gasket 60. When the gaskets 60 arranged at intervalare preset with the same electrode (i.e. positive or negativeelectrode), these two gaskets 60 can be linked by a conductive fabric442 (shown in FIG. 5).

FIGS. 7-8 depict another preferred embodiment of said conducting member,wherein the conductive fabrics 44 1B, 441C adhere separately onto thestepping surface 11 and bottom 12 of the insole 10 and are linked by aconductive body 70, thus providing electric connection of steppingsurface 11, bottom 12 and corresponding conductive fabrics 441B, 441C.The conductive body 70 for linking stepping surface 11, bottom 12 andconductive fabrics 441B, 441C may also be made of conductive fabric.Moreover, the conductive body 70 can link conductive fabrics 441B, 441Cfrom either side of the insole 10.

Referring also to FIG. 9, the conductive fabric 441D is made of alarge-sized block.

1. A shoe assembly for supplying an electrical current to portions of ahuman foot, the shoe assembly comprising: a shoe body having a vamp andan inner portion and a heel portion and a sole, said sole having abottom sole and a middle sole and an insole, said insole positioned at abottom of said inner space so as to directly contact the human foot,said insole being a plate with a predetermined thickness, said insoledefining a stepping surface and a bottom, said heel portion having aninterleaving space formed between an inner wall and an external wall,said interleaving space being open at a top thereof, said sole being ofa non-conductive material; a conducting member formed of a conductivefabric, said conducting member positioned on said insole so as to beinga position suitable for passing electrical current to the human foot;and a conductor structure electrically connected to said conductingmember, said conductor structure having a conductive terminal and anelectric wire, one end of said conductive terminal having an electricalconnecting portion , said conductive terminal positioned into saidinterleaving space so as to have said electric connecting portionexposed at the opening at said top of said interleaving space, saidelectric wire electrically connected to said conducting member.
 2. Theshoe assembly of claim 1, said electric wire transversely penetratingfrom said heel portion through said inner wall of said heel portion . 3.The shoe assembly of claim 2, said electric wire extending verticallythrough said middle sole so as to have an end positioned at a bottom ofsaid insole.
 4. The shoe assembly of claim 1, said electric wire havinga linear-shaped end.
 5. The shoe assembly of claim 1, said electricconnecting portion being a jack.